The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees is a charitable research and education foundation organized with a mission of preserving and protecting honey bees to ensure a quality food supply and environment.

The Trustees of the Foundation have set four main goals for their work and related strategies to accomplish the goals: Providing Educational Opportunities. (a) Advancing public appreciation of honey bees. (b) Industry education – Strengthening beekeepers’ skills. (c) Studies in scientific and technical subjects. Advancing Bee Culture. (a) Encouraging keeping honey bees. (b) Reducing effects of global bee diseases and pests. (c) Maximizing colony production. (d) Assuring hive product quality. Improving Pollination. (a) Fostering beekeeper-grower-gardener communications. (b) Elaborating pollination protocols. (c) Bettering food quality. Conserving Biodiversity. (a) Protecting honey bees from pesticides. (b) Promoting conservation of bee forage. (c) Advocating wider bee genetic diversity.

And every year this Foundation holds and essay with the topic of their choice, this years topic is Honey Varietals, State to State. Each jar of honey reflects an unrepeatable combination of climate, soil, weather and flowers. Each state has unique honey varietals that beekeepers can market to their customers. Please identify one unique varietal to your state and discuss the flower’s uniqueness and how beekeepers can effectively market that varietal. In the essays, please include a photo of the varietal’s flower, an interview with a local beekeeper who collects this varietal and a recipe that highlights the varietal.

If you have any further questions about the essay, please contact your local 4-H Extension Advisory or visit The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees website! You can also contact the Penn State Extension if your local Extension Advisory is unable to be contacted.